Animated exhibitor



A. E. WALBRIDGE Aug. '22, 1944.

2' Shee jts-Sheet l ,4 a m 1 0 R, A e a w H mm M M m VM 5 h x M N Q? a M ww Q4 I a .M

co WY B m f. a

-Aug. 22, 1944. 'A, WALBRIDGE I ANIMATED EXHIBITOR Filed April 1, 1941' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [/4 A? INVENTOR.

Y9. flaw/(459 0 BY Ana-52:

Patented Aug. 22, 1944- ANIMATED EXHIBITOR Alvin E. Walbridge, Easton, Md., assignor to The Magic Duplex Sign Company, Easton, Md., a

corporation of Maryland Application April 1, 1941, Serial No. 386,354

1 Claim.

My invention relates broadly to changeable exhibitors and more particularly to an improved construction of sign,

This invention relates to the general class of changeable exhibitor set forth in the application of Harry Pullen, Serial No. 374,385, for Animated exhibitors, filed January 14, 1941, and is an improvement thereon.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved construction of operating mechanism for changeabl exhibitors which is simple and inexpensive in design, manufacture and production.

Another object of my invention is to' provide a simplified construction of driving mechanism for animated exhibitors by which the animated exhibitors may be operated by a succession of forces in alternately opposite directions derived from a rotatably driven motor shaft.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a. driving mechanism for animated exhibitors by which rotary driving movement is converted into a succession of reversing forces for imparting movement to the exhibitor, first in one direction and then in the opposite direction.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of speed reduction gearing and crank movement for converting rotary forces into reciprocatory forces for driving a multiplicity of elements constituting a changeable exhibitor.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of gearing for converting constant rotary motion into a succession of reciprocatory movements for operating a changeable exhibitor.

Another object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of motor driven disc and crank and pin assembly for converting rotary driving forces into reciprocatory forces for imparting reversing movements to a plurality of elements constituting the changeable exhibitor.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in a unique arrangement of force convertmg mechanism for use in a changeable exhibitor as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the driving mechanism and animated exhibitor driven thereby showing my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig, 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing certain of the elements of the animated exhibitor in normal position; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the top element of the animated exhibitor angularly shifted preparatory to a reverse movement of the elements of the exhibitor; Fig. 5 is a further perspective view illustrating the position of the extreme upper element of the animated exhibitor just prior to the reversal in position of the suspended elements of the animated exhibitor; Fig. 6 illustrates the beginning of the reverse movement of each of the elements of the animated exhibitor; Fig. '7 is a perspective view showing the position of the several elements of the animated exhibitor when moved to reversed position; Fig. 8 is an elevational view with parts broken away and foreshortened and shown partially in cross section to illustrate the operation of the mechanism for converting rotary motion to reciprocatory movement and imparting reversing forces to the elements of the animated exhibitor; Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional View through the control mechanism illustrated in Fig. 8 on line 99 thereof; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the crank mechanism employed for convertin rotary movement to a series of short re- Versing movements which are imparted to the elements of the animated exhibitor; Fig. 11 is an elevational view of a modified form of force reversing mechanism; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 11; Fig. 13 shows a further modified form of force reversing mechanism operated by a constantly rotating motor system, the view being taken partially in cross section along line Iii-l3 of Fig. 14; and Fig. 14 is an elevational view with parts broken away and shown partially in section and illustrating the force reversing mechanism illustrated in Fig. 13.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference characters I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 'l, 8 and 9 designate coacting laterally extending strip-like members suspended in spaced parallel relation within frame lll constituted by vertically extending end supports H and I2 and horizontally extending header M. The end supports II and I2 are mounted on a base l5 constituting a cover portion for a case l6 within which the activating means for reversing the position of the striplike members l9 is located. The strip-like members I-9 are interconnected adjacent opposite ends thereof by means of flexible vertically extending strap members represented at l1, l8, l9 and 20. The strap members are arranged in sets, one set being constituted by straps l8 and i9 and the other set being constituted by straps l1 and 20. Straps l8 and I! are secured to the upper edges of each of the coacting strip-like members as indicated at i811 and 19a, H32) and |Sb, lSc and |9c, etc., while flexible straps I! and 29 are connected to the lower edges of each of the strip-like members as indicated at Ma and 25a, Ill) and 2%, I and 290, etc. The sets of straps pass around the opposite surfaces of each of the strip-like members for suspending the strip-like members as elements of the display. The strip-like members are each provided with resilient silencing bumpers indicated at la, 2a, 3a, etc. on opposite surfaces of the strip-like embers so that as the strip-like members change their positions through substantially 180 and fold upon themselves the surfaces do not strike each other but instead the bumpers yieldingl strike each other, preventing noise at each reversal of the position of the strip-like members constituting the display sign. The change in position of the strip-like members is therefore effected silently and without the clash of the surfaces against each other as the surfaces reverse in position, which would be the case in the event that the resilient bumpers are omitted. The coasting parts of the exhibit on one surface of each of the coacting strip-like members are represented at A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8 and As on one side of the strip-like members, While the coacting parts of the exhibit on the opposite surfaces of the strip-like members are identified as B1, B2, B3, B4, etc. The manner in which the isplay is alternately changed will be understood by a consideration of Figs. 3-7 which show successive steps in the reversing in position of the strip-like members constituting the sign. Fig. 3 illustrates the strip-like members displaying the surfaces A1, A2, A3, etc. to view, while Fig. '7 illustrates the strip-like members displaying the opposite surfaces B1, B2, B3, B4, etc. to view. The intermediat positions of the strips are shown in the sucessive Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

The strip-like member is provided with pintles 2| and 22 at opposite ends thereof. The pintle 2| is pivotally mounted in bracket memoer 23 secured to standard II of the frame. Pintle 213 is polygonal in section and is received in a correspondingly shaped socket in hub of therotatably mounted pulley member The rotatably mounted pulley member 25 has an annular recess 25 in one side thereof engageable over an annular projection 21 within the support if of the frame structure. ap-ertured to allow the hub 25 to pass through the removable facing strip of the support 52 in alignment with the annular projection 2'! on which the pulley 25 is rotatably supported. The support l2 has a hollow channel 28 formed ther in for the passage of cords, cables or belting shown at 29. The cords, cables or belting 2E are fastened at Sill to the pulley 25 and are looped a plurality of times about the pulle so that the cords, cables or belting may be wound or unwound from the pulley as angular movement is imparted to the pulley. The cords, cables or belting terminate in eyelets 3| and 32 opposite ends through which are looped hook members 33 and 34 respectively. The hook members 33 and 34 constitute swivel connections for pertions of a crank arm indicated generally at 35 and shown in perspective View in Fig. 10. The crank arm. consists of a pair of spaced portions 5'5 spaced one from another by transversely extending portion 38. Arm 35 extends as a radius in a radial direction from hub portion as a center. The hub portion 39 is fit ed over the end of shaft 2-5 which projects from uhe gear box 4|, the mechanism within which is driven The support I2 is by motor 42. Arm 31 extends diametrically with respect to the path of rotation of arm 36 and in spaced parallel relation thereto. Arm 31 terminates in a pin 43 which is engaged by the hook shaped member 33. A sleeve or bushing 44 is secured over the end of pin 43 for maintaining the hook shaped member 33 in position on pin 43.

As shown more particularly in-Figs. l and 2, the motor 42 is suspended from the lower surface of the base l5 by suitable means such as bolt members 45. Motor 42 is electrically connected through conductors 46 to anysuitable power circuit such as volts, 60 cycle alternating current whereby motor 42 drives the system of gears in gearbox 4| at a constant rate for revolving the crank'35 which imparts sucessive forces in opposite directions to the pulley 25 for angularly shifting laterally extending strip member for periodically reversing the same. These reversing forces result in displacement of the laterally extending strip'members to a sufficient extent to effect movement thereof as explained in the succession of Figs. 3 through 7. Thus constant rotation produced by motor 42 results in a succession of reversal movements imparted to the laterally extending strip members.

In lieu of the form of crank illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 8, 9 and 10, I may employ an arrangement of disc with associated crank arm and pin for securing 180 angular movement of the laterally extending strip-like members I to 9 irrespective of the fact that constant rotation of the driving motor is effected. This modified arrangement employs a disc 41 which is secured to shaft 40 extending from the gear box 4| of motor 42. Disc 41 has a pin 48 extending from the face thereof adjacent one peripheral edge of the disc. A diametrically extending arm 49 is fastened to pin 48 and extends from pin 48 to a position adjacent the opposite peripheral edge of disc 41. The diametrically extending arm 49 carries a pin 53 on the end thereof over which hook shaped member 33 is engaged. The hook shaped member 33 is prevented from displacement from the end of pin 50 by means of the sleeve or bushing 5|. Constant rotation is imparted from motor 42 to gear box 4|, revolving disc 41 and arm 49, resulting in the imparting of reverse force movements to the cords 29 for in turn effecting successively opposite 180 displacement of the laterally extending elements constituting the animated exhibitor. The force converting mechanism or coupling means between the gear system 4| and the cords 29 illustrated in Fig. 12 is very simple to manufacture and does not require the special pattern necessary in producing a crank of the construction illustrated in Fig. 10.

A further modified form of force converting mechanism may be utilized in carrying out my invention as illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14 wherein the driving motor 42 drives speed reduction gearing 4| which operates shaft 40 for driving gear 52. The driving gear 52 meshes with a similar gear 53 which is carried by shaft 54 journaled on suitable bearing supports 55. Gear 52 carries an eccentrically disposed pin 55 thereon around which a link 5'! is rockably engaged and connected through eyelet 32 to one end of cable 29. Gear 53 carries a pin 58 around which link 59 is rockably engaged and connected through eyelet 3| to the other end of cable 29. It will be observed that pin 58 is eccentric with respect to shaft 54 in the same relative position as is pin 56 with respect to shaft 40. While gear 52 is being driven in a clockwise direction, gear 53 will be operated in a counterclockwise direction. While gear 52 is moving in a clockwise direction to impress a force on the end of cable 29 in the direction of arrow 60 for unrolling the turns of the cable from roller 25, gear 53 moves pin 58 in such a position that cable 29 connected with link 59 through eyelet 3| rolls upon pulley 25. Thus there is a successive unwinding and winding of the cable 29 on the pulley Z5 first in one direction and then in the opposite direction for successive angular distances of 180 by which the laterally extending elements constituting the sign are successively reversed in position.

Thus the pictorial representations constituting the sign are first presented in the order A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A3, and A9, and then presented in the order B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, etc. Thus the animated exhibitor successively changes from a position in one plane to a position in an opposite plane for successively displaying different exhibits. The mechanical means for converting the rotary motion to the successive reversing movements are each very simple in construction and arrangement and production and are correspondingly inexpensive so that the completed sign may be produced at less cost than heretofore when considering the operating mechanism of the Harry Pullen application Serial No. 374,385, supra.

In order to properly center the cover constituted by base with respect to the case l6, strip members 60 and BI are arranged transversely of the cover I5 and serve to facilitate the proper erection of the animated exhibitor with respect to the case 16. The mechanism within the case i6 is properly ventilated by use of openings 62 covered by suitable grill-work 63. The conductors 46 extend through the wall of case IE to a suitable source of power for driving motor 42.

The coupling means between the elements constituting the structure of the sign and the driving motor may be varied in size, structure and arrangement and I desire that it be understood that no limitations upon my invention are intended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

Driving mechanism for animated exhibitors consisting of a multiplicity of reversible display elements, a rotatably driven motor, a rotatably journaled pulley connected with one of the reversible elements of the exhibitor, said pulley having a cylindrical cable wrapping portion a cable having an intermediate portion secured to said pulley and Wrapped a plurality of times around the cylindrical cable wrapping portion of said pulley and terminating in a pair of end portions, a crank member operated by said driving mechanism, said crank member including a pair of spaced parallel arms, one of said arms extending radially with respect to said mechanism and the other of said arms extending diametrically with respect to said mechanism, and swivel means interconnecting the ends of each of said arms with the end portions of said cable for allowing angular flexing of said cable while said cable is wrapping upon or unwrapping from the cylindrical cable wrapping portion of said pulley for effecting rotative movement of said pulley first in a clockwise and next in a counterclockwise direction under conditions of continuous rotation of said driving mechanism.

ALVIN E. WALBRIDGE. 

